Q: This vine seems to grow like kudzu. It showed up this past summer, twirling around anything in its path. What is it and how can I get rid of it?
A: Garden designer Shannon Pable says it is field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis.
It wraps around everything in its path and reproduces by seed and by root sprouts. The roots are very brittle, so when you pull it the roots break apart and send up new sprouts. It’s native to Europe & Asia.
Persistent spraying with glyphosate (Roundup, etc) or triclopyr (Brush B Gon, etc) will kill it but these chemicals also kill nearby ornamentals. Controlling the vine by hand will require persistence over several years.